A mixture of clouds and sunshine graced us for an adventurous engagement engagement session in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We rode up the mountain together, a place they both call home, and I had the pleasure of getting to know them better and hearing their love story! We took in the views of the Blue Ridge together and splashed around in a waterfall, all while documenting their sweet engagement story.
Read moreLOOKING GLASS FALLS ENGAGEMENT & MOUNTAIN TOP CHEERS
Engagement sessions are a time to have fun. To adventure with your person. To celebrate this special time before the wedding and document your love story. Shortly after Tiffany said yes, she and Nick traveled to the Blue Ridge Mountains for a weekend celebration including their engagement session. There was dancing, cuddling, a waterfall and a mountain top champagne cheers. Congratulations!! Thank you for trusting me to photograph this chapter in your lives!
Read moreBLUE RIDGE PORTRAITS WITH THE PUPS
I mean… it’s hard to beat a gorgeous mountain sunset hike with the sweetest couple who is adorably in love. Add in their precious, well behaved pups adorned with beautiful floral wreaths made by Petal and Fern and there you have it - the perfect evening! Hannah and Nate brought a friend with them to help with the pups so they could also have some portraits with just the two of them. They danced on the mountain top together as the sun set behind them. They grew up hiking this mountain and now have beautiful moments captured in a place that’s special to them.
Read moreBLUE RIDGE ENGAGEMENT
I can remember nineteen years ago when my parents would have friends over for “Survivor” night parties to watch the show together. I invested in a one-on-one mentor session with Julia Sears, a photographer I greatly admire, and she goes to “Survivor” night parties since she’s friends with a cast member! So fun that she invited Chris and his beautiful fiancé, Kate, for an engagement session in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Julia let me pick her creative brain and spent a generous amount of her time with me.
TRILLIUM LINKS AND LAKE CLUB WEDDING IN CASHIERS, NC
Brittany and Matt met in Texas, but it was in the Blue Ridge Mountains that Matt got down on one knee and proposed. They chose Trillium Links for their wedding venue, since it is right down the street from where Brittany's grandparents lived, and where she spent many happy times with her family growing up. The Blue Ridge Mountains are now a place that Brittany and Matt love going to together to create their own happy memories. We started out their wedding day at the lovely Old Edwards Inn & Spa in Highlands, NC where Brittany and her girls got ready together. Brittany looked flawless with her hair and makeup from Anarie! Old Edwards Inn offers a gorgeous mountain view and cozy quarters that were the perfect backdrop. For the ceremony, we traveled down the road to Trillium in Cashiers, NC and joined Brittany and Matt’s friends and family for an intimate ceremony with the blue ridge mountains in sight. Their friends and family all traveled to join them for their wedding day - some flying as far as from Australia! After Keith Norton officiated a sweet ceremony, we utilized the scenery for some portraits, and then started the reception. The entire evening ran so smoothly and all the details came together perfectly, thanks to WNC Weddings & Events! Benjamin Warner pulled out his drums and brought everyone out to the dance floor. Brittany and Matt didn’t stop smiling the whole day. Intimate weddings with mountain views are always a favorite!
Venue: @trilliumlinks
Planning / Coordination: @wncweddings
Ceremony Musician / DJ: @benjamintwarner
Floral: @theblossomjar
Hair & MUA: @anarie_brides
Cake: @sugarcloudbakingcompany
Officiant: Keith Norton
FLY FISHING ON THE RIVER ENGAGEMENT SESSION
Their first date was fly fishing together - how fun is that? When Olivia reached out and shared her vision for her engagement session, I couldn’t wait! All suited up in their fly fishing gear, they took me to the river and I photographed them in their element. A place that brings them joy, peace, and laughter and where they have shared wonderful memories together. We hiked out of the river just in time to catch a beautiful sunset and a countless number of laughs. Aside from having gorgeous locations for our backdrops, Matthew and Olivia were so much fun to photograph because they are incredibly happy. I wish you two a lifetime of happiness!
ENGAGEMENT AT SUNSET IN THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS
Kasie and Tate are lifelong friends and now planning their Charlotte wedding for later this year. It was a pleasure to spend the evening with these two, photographing this special time - their engagement! The rain postponed a couple of our scheduled session dates, but the third time was the charm. We had the most beautiful weather and sunset on the Blue Ridge Parkway! They were up for an adventure and the views + photographing their sweet love made for a perfect evening together. From a waterfall to a mountain top, Kasie and Tate went all out hiking to the best spots to celebrate their engagement! It's the BIGGEST compliment when Charlotte friends come to visit me in the mountains and let me show them my favorite places.
ENGAGED AT THE FARMSTEAD | DANIELLE + JOEY
We had a lovely evening one year out from their wedding to celebrate Danielle and Joey being engaged! The Farmstead venue in Mount Pleasant, North Carolina was a stunning backdrop for celebrating this exciting time for Danielle and Joey. They danced, laughed, snuggled, and shared a gorgeous sunset together. I can't wait for their wedding day in September. Fall is my favorite time of the year, and a wonderful season for weddings!
QUEENS UNIVERSITY WEDDING | LACEY + OLIVER
It was an honor to be part of Lacey and Oliver's wedding day! Their love story dates back to over ten years ago when they meet at Stoole Pigeons Sports Bar in Charlotte through a mutual friend. Oliver proposed to Lacey in Uptown Charlotte, which is also where we spent a sunrise together for their engagement portraits. It only made sense that they would be united in Charlotte and celebrate at the place that brought Oliver to the United States - Queens University. With family traveling from Guatemala, and ten years worth of mutual friends, Lacey and Oliver's wedding day was bursting at the seams with love and gratitude.
Lacey looked stunning in her Martina Liana gown with her hair styled to perfection by Tammy and Mae with Modern Salon & Spa. Ballantyne Limo drove us to Little Sugar Creek Greenway in style for a quick wedding party portrait. It seemed only fitting that their was a soccer game happening! Soccer is the reason Oliver traveled to the United States. The soccer players happily let us interrupt their game, and pose with the soccer ball.
Congratulations, Lacey and Oliver! Your wedding day was beautiful and I am so happy for you both. A special thank you to Yessica for helping me capture the day!
SUNSET FIELD | CHRISTINE MATERNITY
Christine greeted me with a hug and arms that felt like ice! She had blasted the AC in her car ride to the field to prepare for the heat! With temperature predictions of close to 100°, I thought for sure Christine would prefer to postpone our session together. Not only did she eagerly agree to continue as planned, she showed up with ice packs, bottled water for days, and a cooling towel! A smile never left her face - even when fire ants decided to join in our session.
Christine and Zach cuddled and danced effortlessly in front of the camera. I have no doubt their new addition will have a fun and joyful life with these two for parents!
Christine has an amazing eye for vintage must-haves. Check out her collection available for rent at Carolina Charm!
RAINY & ROMANTIC | AMBER + CALEB MATERNITY
A little rain didn't keep these two from running through the field and dancing in the trees! Only weeks away from welcoming two baby boys into their lives, they soaked up the these moments together.
Congratulations, Amber and Caleb! You two are going to be wonderful parents.
ROMARE BEARDEN PARK | LACEY + OLIVER ENGAGED
Charlotte, North Carolina holds a special place in the love story these two share. We made a point to photograph their engagement in meaningful places in Charlotte to capture this special time, and to reflect on the ten years of memories they've made together. They are engaged to be married this month, and they couldn't be more in love!
"Home is wherever I'm with you."
- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
214 MARTIN STREET | JENNIFER & MICHAEL RALEIGH WEDDING
Jennifer and Michael invited me to share in their wedding day story on June 24, 2016. They were married at 214 Martin Street - a quaint venue on a cobblestone street in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Jennifer and I met on a Skype call and she shared her romantic proposal story - Michael popped the question during a hike at Lake Tahoe! Their dog Jazzy was a part of it, as well as a photographer that Michael had arranged to be there! Hearing Jennifer's excitement about her love for Michael and the plans for their wedding day made me so excited to meet them and capture memories for them.
The wedding day was full of laughs and dancing from Jennifer and Michael's awesome wedding party and families.
My favorite parts of their day included -
Jennifer's first look with Dad
The way Michael looked at Jennifer so lovingly the entire day
The Maid on Honor and Best Man speeches - both were amazing speakers and shared stories and jokes that had everyone laughing!
Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Shelton for including me in your day! Thank you to Kiersten for capturing some great moments.
